Acetylene-gas generator



April 15, 1924. 1,490,417

J. L. CHESNUTT ACETYLNE GAS GENERKTOR Filed Aug. 16 192'0 /N VEA/TOR.'

Amil 15, i924. 1,490,417

` J. Yl.. CHESNUTT ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed5 Aug. 16 l5 9 20 4 4Sheets-Sheet 2 2 @Z1 Mm m Apri 15 1924 J. L. CHESNUTT ACETYLENE GASGENERATOR Filed Aug. 1a. 1920 4 Sheetsheet 3 prr l5, i924.

J. L. cHEsNu'i-T A CETYLENE GAS GENERATOR Filed Aug. 16. 1920 4sheets-,sheet 4.

`Patented Apr. l5, 12d,

JOHN LOUCXEN CEESNUTT, @F KANSAS GETY, VHSSOURI.

vv.ACTElYL'ENE--GAS GENERATOR.

Application filed. .August 16, 1920. Serial No. 403,583.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN L. CHnsNUTT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and resident of Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, haveinvented a new and useful Acetylene-Gas Generator, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved acetylene gasgenerator and particularly means for automatically controlling thesupply of carbid to the generating chamber.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved means forautomatically supplying carbid to the generating chamber, including adiaphragm acting upon a feed rod, gas being introduced to the upper sideof said diaphragm from the generating chamber through a by-pass.

A further object of this invention is to provide manually operated meansfor starting or initiating the generation of gas prior to the automaticfeed of carbid.

A further object of this invention is to provide a diaphragm forautomatically oper ating a feed rod and a system of levers connectedwith said diaphragm for amplifying the movement thereof.

A further object of this invention is to produce a generator which is ofexceedingly simple construction, inexpensive, easy to operate, notliable to get out of repair, and eminently safe in operation.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof elements hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims andillustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a sideelevation illustrating the complete device. Figure 2 is a verticalsection of the generating tank and regulating tank, on an enlargedscale. Figure 3 is a bottom plan of the hopper and feed cone devicesdetached. Figure e is a cross-section of the regulating chamber on theline 11C-4 8 is a cross-section on the line 8 8 of Figure 2.

, Figure 9 is a'vertical section, on an enlarged scale, illustrating aregulating chamber and diaphragm therein, amplifying levers beinginterposed -between the diaphragm and' feed rod.l Figure 10 is a plan ofportions of the devices shown in Figure 9.

ln the construction of the device as shown the numeral 12 designates atank formed of sheet metal and provided with a cover 13 adapted to besecured thereto by bolt-s 14 passing through peripheral flanges 15, 16formed respectively on the tank and cover. A gasket 17 is interposedbetween the lianges 15, 16 so that the cover may be sealed to gas-tightcondition. The tank may be mounted on sills 18 and securely boltedthereto by bolts 19 passing through angle irons 20 secured to the tank;and the sills may be mounted on skids 21 and secured thereto in asimilar manner. ln the present construction and as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, the interior of the tank 10 constitutes agenerating and storage cham ber, and a pressure gage 22, shownconventionally, is mounted on the cover 13 and communicates with saidchamber.

A regulating tank or chamber 23 is mounted in any suitable location, inthis instance above and centrally of the cover 13. The regulating tank23 is of much smaller capacity than the tank 12, and communicatestherewith by a tube 24 sealed to said tanks by means of glands orpacking washers 25. A diaphragm 26, of any suitable construction, ismounted horizontally across the regulating tank 23 and divides theinterior thereof into upper and lower chambers, said diaphragm beingsealed in said tank to gastight condition in any suitable manner. lnthis instance the tank 23 is formed in two parts, upper and lower, eachhaving a peripheral iange 27, and the diaphragm is clamped between saidfianges by means of bolts 28. A by-pass pipe 29, equipped with a cut-offvalve 30 and also with a drain valve 31, communicates between theinterior of the generating and storage tank 12, through the coverthereof, and the upper portion of the regulating tank 23 at a pointabove the diaphragm 26.

A carbid hopper 32 is suitably mounted in the upper portion of the maintank 12. As shown a plurality of brackets 33, each having a hole 3ft inits horizontal portion, are secured to the inner surface of the wall ofthe tank 12, near the top thereof, and lugs 35 are secured to! the outerwall of the hopper and each of said lugs is formed with a downwardlyprojecting tongue 36 adapted to enter the hols 3ft of one of saidbrackets. Thus the hopper is suspende-d in the tank and is restrainedagainst casual circumferential mo-vement.

The hopper 32 is formed with the usual sloping hopper bottom having arelatively small opening at its lower end, and a coneshaped valve 37 ismounted in and adapted to close said opening, said cone having itslarger end down and projecting through said opening. Thecone valve 37 issecured, as by a suitable coupling 38, to the lower end of a feed rod 39extending vertically within the hopper and passing upwardly7 through theupper portion of the tank l2 and through the tube 24 to the regulatingtank 23, said rod ending immediately below the center of the diaphragm26. That portion of the feed rod 39 within the hopper 32 preferablyisenclosed within a tube 40, anda shield cone 4l is fixed to the lower`end of said tube and covers and protects the coupling 38 and upper endof the cone valve 37. It is the kfunction of the tube 40 to preventpressureof carbid in the hopper against the feed rod 39, and it is thefunction of the shield cone 4l to prevent pressure of carbid against thecoupling and lower cone, prevent packing of carbid on said lower cone.and insure freedom of movement of the parts. To support and steady thetube or pipe 40 within the hopper 32, triangular plates 42 are provided,one above the other, each formed with a circular hole to receive saidtube or pipe. Hooked rods 43, in this instance three in number, aresecured to the corners of each of the triangular plates 42, extendhorizontally and pass through the walls of the hopper and are threadedat their outer ends and nuts 44 mounted on the projecting ends againstIthe wall of the hopper. set collar 45 is secured to the upper end of thepipe 40 and rests on the uppermost triangular plate 42.

A yoke-shaped or downwardly arched bracket 46 is mounted on and securedto the lower end of the hopper 42 and spans the lower end of the valvecone 37. A forked lever 47 is fulcrumed between its ends on one lowercorner of the bracket 46 and the inner end of said lever extends beneaththe center of the cone 37 and hopper. A threaded stem 48 is fixedrigidly to and extends outwardly from the outer end of the lever 47, anda weight 49 is threaded on said stem'and adapted for lon.- gitudinaladjustment thereon, said weight being held in adjusted position by alocknut 50.

A feed rod extension 51 is threaded and secured in the lower end of theycoupling 38 and said extension projects Vdownwardly through the cone 37and through a guide hole in the center of the yoke-shaped bracket 46. Ayoke-shaped standard or post 52 is formed on or fixed rigidly to theinner end of the forked lever 47 and extends upwardly, in straddlingrelation to the bracket 46`r within the cone 37. The cross member of theyoke-shaped standard 52 is uppermost and is formed with a central holethrough which the extension feed rod 5l projects freely. Lock nuts arescrewed on the extension feed rod 5l and are adapted to bear against theupper end of the yoke-shaped standard 52, which upper end preferably isrounded so as to produce pressure near the center of the locknuts in anyposition of the lever and standard. It is the tendency of the weightedlever 47, through the standard 52, to maintain the cone valve 37 inuppermost or closing position, by pressure on the locknuts 53 of theextension feed rod, thus forcing the cone upwardly to its seat in thelower end of the hopper and preventing feeding of carbid from saidhopper. The weight 49 may be adjusted longitudinally of the stem 48 asdesired to secure the proper amount of pressure.

A carbid filling opening is provided, compri-sing a collar 54 sealed inan opening in the cover 13 and having a lid 55 adapted to be drawntightly against the outer end by means of a bolt 56 passing through apacking gland 5.7 in said lid and seated in a plate 58 engaging beneatha flange 59 on the interior of the collar. A gasket 60 is interposedbetween the collar 54 and lid 55, so that the lid may be drawn togas-tight condition by tightening the bolt 56. A similar water fillingopening, having a collar 6l, is provided in the side wall of the tankl2, and the hopper 32 is so arranged on its supports that the weight 49is adjacent the latter opening, thus facilitating manual adjustment ofthe position of said weight on the stem 48. lt is to be understood thecollar 6l is equipped with closing means similar to that just abovedescribed in connection with the collar 54 of the carbid fillingopening, including a lid 62 and bolt 63 (see Figure l).

A starter rod is secured.y gas-tight, to the center of the diaphragm 26and projects upwardly therefrom within the regulating tank 23. A shaft65 is journaled in and to one side of the center' of the tank 23 andprojects through the wall of said tank, being sealed to gas-tightcondition in any suitable manner as by passing through a gland 66. Alever 67 is fixed to the inner end of the shaft 65, extendssubstaiitially radially of the tank 23, and has its inner end aperturedor slotted to receive loosely the starter Vrod 64. rlhe starter rod 64is threaded and spaced pairs of lock nuts 68, 69 are mounted thereon,respectively above and below the lever 67, whereby said rod may have arange of limited vertical movement without conlill? Leader? tact of saidnuts with said lever. A starter handle 7G is lined to the outer endporti-on ci the sha-tt 65 and is adapted tor manual actuation to rocksaid shaft and cause a vertical oscillation of the inner end of thelever (i7 at times to contact the nuts G8, 69 and cause verticalmovement of the starter rod 64.

l pop-off valve 7l, shown conventionally, is mounted in the wall ot thetank l2 to relieve excessive pressure it the occasion arises at anytime. l

in exit pipe 72 leads 'from the generating and storage tank l2 andenters a gas washing tank 73 supported by a bracket or brackets 7l fromthe main tank l2. The gas washer tank 72 is shown conventionally and isadapted to contain water in its lower portion and material such asmineral wool in its upper portion, as well as other devices such asscreens for washing, cleansing, screening and drying the gas before itis carried to place of use. The washing tank 73 is provided with afilling spout 75 and a drain cock 76, and a feed pipe 77 leads from itsupper end to carry the gas to its destination. As an additional actor ofsafety, and to provide additional cleansing of the gas, a flash-backsuch as 78, here shown conventionally, may be interposed in the feedpipe 77, from which a hose 79 or other connection, equipped with a feedvalve 80, leads to suitable nozzles, torches or other place ot use oithe gas.

ln use, the parts having been assembled as shown and described, thehopper 32 having been supplied with. carbid and water placed in the tanktherebeneath, the eneration of gas is initiated by moving t Le startinghandle 70 lightly through an arc in either direction a few times, thusmoving; the starter rod 64 up and down as before stated and causing avibration of the diaphragm 2G. This causes a vertical movement of thefeed rod 39, with which the diaphragm contacts, and such movement-forces the cone valve 37 down and permits some carbid to tall throughthe annular opening thus produced between said valve and thelower rimor" the hopper. ris the carbid talle into water in the tank 'l2 isgenerated and lills the large tank and some or" the gas passes throughthe by-pass pipe 29, the valve having been opened, to the upper portionof the regulating tank 23, above the diaphragm. 'lfihen the gage 22indicates the desired pressure the startery handle is placed in neutralposition and tie b v-pass valve 30 is closed` so that the pressure inupper part of regula-ting tank above diaphragm is maintained at thestandard or desired amountn Thereafter, as gas is used jfrom the tank l2through the exit pipe 72 and ,connections7 pressure below the diaphragm2 is decreased and the excess pressure above the diaphragm ltierces itdownl and causes an opening movement of the valve 37, and more carbid ispermitted to tall into the ,water to generate more gas and restore thenormal pressure, which again closes the valve; it being understood thatthe weighted lever i7 always acts to hold the valve in closed positionexcept when some counter agency forces it open. llhis operationcontinues so long as gas is used from the storage tank, the slightlyvarying pressure above and below` the diaphragm keeping it vibratingslightly against the leed rod 39 so that the valve 37 is kept open instenough to maintain the correct `flow of carbid and the normal pressurein the tank l2. By this means a steady volume and pressure ot gas ismaintained, whether much or little is used.

ln Figures 9 and l0 l have shown a plurality oit levers interposedbetween the diaphragm and the feed rod to amplify the variation of theformer in its effect upon the latter. ln this construction the diaphragmis composed of a relatively rigid circular member 26a of less diameterthan the tank 23 and a` more or less exible annular member 26bsupporting said rigid member and in turn supported by the wall of thetank, as hereinbetore described. A ring 8]. is clamped between the wallsof the members of the tank, beneath the diaphragm member 26", andgaskets 82 may be interposed between said members if desired. Forkedears 83 project inwardly radially trom the ring 8l and levers Se, inthis. instance three in number, are fulcrurned at one end each in saidears and extend inwardly toward the center ot the tank. The feed rod 39ais formed or provided with an enlarged head S5 at its upper end, spacedsomewhat below the center oi the diaphragm member 26, and the inner endsof the levers Se rest on said head, which preferably is provided on itsupper euri-face with radial lugs or ribs 86 to prevent accidentaldisplacement ot said levers. The rigid diaphragm member 26a is formednea-r its circumference with spaced pairs of downwardly projectingapertured ears 87, each pair of which embraces and is pivoted to one ofthe levers Se, such connection being nearer the outer than the innerends of the levers. lownward movement oit' the diaphragm member 26a,nermitted by flexibility of the outer diaphragm Vmember 26b and inducedby excess pressure of gas above it or by action the starting devices,results in an actuation ot the levers 84 to communica-te pressure to thefeed rod 398 through the head 85, such pressure and the corresponding`movement being of course amplified and increased. by the favorableleverage obtained through the connections described. Thus thesensitiveness olf' the automatic control of feed of carbid is increased,and-variations in pressure of gas stored in the tank 12 quickly resultin movements to restore such pressure to normal, so that the pressure ismaintained at all times at or nea-r normal condition.

This generator, including the automatic f feed regulating means, isexceedingly simple,

easy to operate, and not likely to get out of repair, and consequentlyis safe. It can be easily and quickly recharged with carbid or waterthrough the filling openings provided for that purpose. In case thediaphragm should burst the feeding of carbid would cease, `and the feedvalve would be automatically closed so that further generation would bediscontinued.

The important feature of this invention I deem to be the automaticcontrol through a diaphragm so arranged that a supply of gas is carriedto its opposite side through a by-pass, the regulating chamber thusformed being supplied with gas to the extent ofthe normal or idealpressure. It is apparent that the location and position as well asarrangement of the diaphragm may be varied, as by extending it entirelyacross the upper end of the main tank, or placing a separate diaphragmchamber or tank at a different location from that here shown anddescribed. I do not desire, therefore, to be understood as limitingmyself to the precise construction and arrangement here shown anddescribed.

Another feature which I consider of importance is the hand controlledstarting lever mechanism, and also the lever mechanism 'for amplifyingthe action of the diaphragm.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a generator having a container and avalve controlling' the passage of carbid therefrom, the combination of aregulating chamber, a diaphragm extended across said chamber ingas-tight condition, a vertically movable feed rod connected toy saidvalve and extending to a point beneath said diaphragm, and leverspivotally connected to said diaphragm and engaging the upper end of saidfeed rod whereby pressure on and movement of said diaphragm results ingreater movement of said feed rod.

2. In a generator having a container and a valve controlling the passageof carbid therefrom, the combination of a diaphragm forming one side ofa gas-tight regulating chamber, a feed rod secured to said valve andextending to a point beneath said diaphragm, and suitably fulcrumcd,having pivotal connections with said diaphragm and engaging the upperend of the feed rod, whereby pressure in said regulating chamber uponsaid diaphragm is transmitted to and amplified with respect to actuationof said feed rod and opening movement of said valve. f

nasca. r?

3. In a generator having a container and a valve adapted to control thepassage of carbid therefrom, the combination of a diaphragm forming oneside of a gas-tight regulating chamber, a feed rod secured to saidvalveV and extending adjacent said diaphragm, movement of said diaphragmin one direction being adapted to actuate said feed rod and open saidvalve, a stem secured to said diaphragm and extendin within saidregulating chamber, a rock sha t in said regulating chamber, meansconnected with said rock shaft for causing actuation of said stem inboth directions and yet permitting independent movement of saiddiaphragm and stem without affecting said rock shaft, and means forrocking said shaft.

4c. In a generator, a tank, a hopper suspended therein and formed withan opening at its lower end, a valve adapted to close said opening, afeed rod secured to said valve and extending upwardly through saidhopper, a tube enclosing a portion of said feed rod, a shield secured tothe lower end of said tube and embracing the upper portion of saidvalve, plates apertured to receive said tube, rods secured to saidplates and extending laterally and anchored to the walls of said hopper,and a stop member secured to said tube and engaging above one of saidplates, to support said tube and members carried thereby.

5. In a generator, a controlling device comprising a chamber, adiaphragm extending across said chamber, a stem secured to saiddiaphragm and extending within said chamber, longitudinally spaced stopmembers on said stem, a rock shaft journaled in said chamber, an arm onsaid rock shaft extending adjacent said stem between and adapted toengage said stop members and to move said stem in either direction, anda lever handle on said rock shaft outside of said chamber.

6. In a generator, a tank, a hopper therein, valve-controlled feedmechanism for said hopper including a vertical feed rod, a regulatingchamber, a diaphragm. extending across said chamber, levers fulcrumed attheir ends within said chamber and having their opposite ends adapted torest on said feed rod, and pivotal connections between said diaphragmand intermediate portions of said levers, whereby movement of saiddiaphragm is amplified with respect to said feed rod.

7. In a generator, a tank, a hopper therein, a valve controlling saidhopper and having an upwardly extending feed rod, a regulating chamber,a diaphragm extending across said chamber and formed of an annularflexible member and an inflexible member centrally thereof, a leverfulcrumed at one end within and extending substantially radially of saidchamber beneath said medew diaphragm, the opposite end of seid. leveradapted to engage said feed rod, and e pivotal connection between theinlexible portion of said diaphragm and an intermediate portion of saidlever.

8. In a generator, a, tank, e hopper therein, a valve controlling saidhopper and having an upwardly extending feed rod connected thereto, eregulating chamber, a diaphragm extending across said chamber, a ringsupported by the wall of said chamber, levers ulerumed to one end tosaid ring and extending substantially radially of seid chamber, theopposite ends of said levers adapted to rest on en enlarged uppei1 endof seid feed rod, end pivoal connections between seid diaphragm andintermediae portions of seid levers, such connections being closer tethe ulerums than to 'bhe :free ends of said levers.

Signed et Cheyenne, in `the county of Laramie and State of Wyoming, this30th day of July, 1920.

JOHN LGUClEN CHESNUTT.

